Services

Situation

• You want to sell your company, for example as part of succession planning
• You want to sell a business unit that no longer belongs to the core business — from a corporate group or a larger group of companies
• You are looking for an investor to strengthen your equity base and finance accelerated growth
• You are in a restructuring or special situation and need a process that leads swiftly to closing

What we do

Phase I — Preparation

The goal of the first phase is to have everything ready before the first buyer is contacted — story, numbers, buyer list.

• We develop the sale strategy based on your goals and starting situation
• We build the sale story from the success factors of your business model, and develop a robust business plan and information memorandum on that basis
• We research potential buyers worldwide — strategic acquirers, financial investors, family offices and, where it makes sense, your own management
• This results in a long list and, once agreed with you, the short list of candidates to approach
• We identify possible dealbreakers before the first contact is made

Phase II — Outreach and Negotiation

The goal of the second phase is a competitive dynamic that holds through to closing — as a multi-stage bidding process or, where it makes sense, within a deliberately limited group.

• Approaching the agreed candidates, personally by the founding partner
• Initial, anonymous assessment of interest, followed by a non-disclosure agreement (NDA)
• Solicitation of initial indicative offers (letter of interest)
• Management presentations and due diligence: preparation, coordination, execution
• Negotiation of the letter of intent, term sheet and purchase agreement
• Signing and closing

Negotiations are led personally by the founding partner throughout. A sale process typically takes around six months.

Who leads the process, and where the experience comes from → About us

Situation

• You want to acquire a Mittelstand company to gain access to new products, technologies, customers or markets — as a single acquisition or as part of a buy-and-build strategy
• You are based abroad and want to acquire in German-speaking markets — and need someone on the ground who knows the Mittelstand and can approach owners in their own language

The target company may already be identified, or still need to be found.

On request, we also advise on acquisition financing.

What we do

Phase I — Identification

The goal of the first phase is a robust short list — candidates that fit the strategy and are realistically attainable.

• We develop the acquisition strategy and jointly define the target criteria
• We research companies, markets and competitors
• This results in a long list and, once agreed with you, a prioritised short list
• We develop the outreach strategy and the value story from the target’s perspective

Phase II — Outreach and Assessment

The goal of the second phase is to establish whether a candidate is willing to sell and whether it's the right fit — and to keep their interest until a decision is made.

• Approaching candidates personally through the founding partner — including companies not currently for sale
• Initial, anonymous assessment of willingness to sell
• Assessment and analysis of strategic fit
• Preparation of the indicative offer (letter of interest)

Phase III — Due Diligence and Negotiation

The goal of the third phase is a smooth due diligence process and a swift agreement — involving all advisors on your side.

• Transaction and purchase price structuring, company valuation
• Coordination and management of due diligence
• Negotiation of the letter of intent, term sheet and purchase agreement
• Signing and closing

Financing advisory

On request, we arrange the right acquisition financing: bank-ready documentation including a business plan, selection of financing partners, and negotiation of terms.

Negotiations are led personally by the founding partner throughout.

Who leads the process, and where the experience comes from → About us

Situation

• You are a manager or management team and want to acquire the company you work for — or a division of it (MBO)
• You want to buy into a company as an external manager (MBI)

In both cases, the purchase price typically exceeds your own means. Financing determines whether the transaction happens at all.

What we do

The goal is to turn the idea of acquiring into a financeable, executable transaction.

• We assess feasibility and value the company
• We develop the transaction and financing concept, including the structure of your stake
• We prepare the business plan and financing model as the basis for all investor and bank discussions
• Direct access to the financial investors who genuinely back MBOs in the Mittelstand — private equity firms, family offices and private investors
• Debt financing through banks for Mittelstand transactions, complemented by public funding programmes
• We negotiate with the outgoing shareholder, investors and banks through to closing
• Negotiations are led personally by the founding partner throughout.

Who leads the process, and where the experience comes from → About us

Situation

• You have received a specific purchase offer and want its fairness assessed independently and discreetly
• An investor or competitor has expressed unsolicited interest in acquiring your company
• You want to test your price expectations and your options before starting a sale process

Services

The goal is a realistic view of the market: is the offer on the table good — or would other buyers pay more?

• Assessment of the purchase price and offer terms based on market and transaction data
• Validation of the company valuation and pricing rationale
• Assessment of which other buyers could be in the running, and what they would likely be prepared to pay
• Assessment of negotiating room and key deal terms
• Evaluation of strategic alternatives
• Clear recommendation on next steps

The assessment is carried out personally by the founding partner, discreetly and with no interest in the process outcome.

Situation

• A sale is intended, but not for some years yet — and it should happen at the best possible value
• You want to know your value drivers and work on them deliberately — new services, new customer groups, internationalisation
• You want to address the issues that regularly depress valuations in the Mittelstand: owner dependency, concentration on a few customers or suppliers, insufficient KPIs
• You want to resolve issues early, rather than under time pressure in the middle of a sale process

Services

The goal is to develop the company over time around what buyers actually reward — so the value is there when the time comes.

• The goal is to develop the company over time around what buyers actually reward — so the value is there when the time comes.
• Analysis of exit readiness from a buyer’s perspective
• Identification of value drivers and potential dealbreakers
• Developing a value-maximising equity story and aligning KPIs and financial presentation with it
• Preparation for due diligence and buyer requirements
• Development of the exit strategy
• Ongoing monitoring of market and transaction conditions for the right timing
• If desired, a seamless transition into a sale process once the time comes

A single point of contact throughout — the founding partner, bringing the same buyer's perspective he has gained across more than 75 transactions.